This Day in Weather History: May 8th

Weather History - May 8th

May 8th, 1934:

Pierre recorded its earliest 100 degrees when the high temperature reached 103 degrees. Mobridge also reached 103 degrees, the earliest yearly date for the city.

May 8th, 1965:

The strongest tornado recorded in South Dakota tracked across eastern Tripp County. It was part of a more significant tornado outbreak in Nebraska and South Dakota during the afternoon through late evening hours. Click HERE for more information from the NWS Office in Rapid City.

May 8th, 1986:

Thunderstorms produced two to four inches of torrential rainfall over much of central and eastern South Dakota. The heavy rains caused extensive flooding, with Walworth and Potter Counties reporting the most damage. In those counties, most roads were underwater. Several bridges and roads were also washed out in that area. The heavy rain washed out the dam at Lake Byre in Lyman County, which produced water waist-deep in Kennebec. The city of Kennebec lost its sole water source when the dam broke. Cow Creek in Lyman County also flooded and broke a part of a dam, causing minor property damage. The rain continued to fall into the morning hours on the 9th. Some two-day rainfall totals include 4.33 inches in Kennebec, 4.21 in Shelby, 3.91 at 4 miles west of Mellette, 3.30 in Gettysburg, 3.06 in Blunt, 2.99 in Eureka, 2.75 at 2 NNW of Mobridge; 2.70 inches 2 miles south of Ashton and in Britton.

May 8th, 1995:

Flooding caused by snowmelt from two significant snowstorms in April continued throughout May. The flooding was aggravated by widespread torrential rains, especially from the early morning of the 8th through the early morning of the 9th. Rainfall amounts ranged from one to four inches. Some higher rainfall amounts include 5.50 inches at Wakpala, 4.50 at Chelsea and Leola, 4.20 at Ipswich, 4.10 inches 12 north of McLaughlin, and 3.91 inches at Aberdeen. A worker was injured near Claremont when the train derailed due to the weakening of the rail bed caused by high water. The extensive flooding continued to cause road damage and many road closures.